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Bowling News USA - February 22, 2011 Robert Smith Nips George Frilingos for Euro-Med Storm International Masters Title..

(Pictured: George Frilingos)

Former PBA Touring professional Robert Smith United States, defeated Australia's George Frilingos 243-228, in the championship match of the 8th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge Saturday at Pearl Bowling Center in Malate, Manila, Philippines to capture the title and one million Philippine Pesos (approx. US($23,040).

The tournament was sponsored by Storm Products Inc.

Smith, who owns seven PBA titles and has won more than $775,000 during his career on the PBA Tour, now lives in Hong Kong. The 37-year-old right-hander had to sit and wait for his opponent as he earned the No. 1 seed for the four-player stepladder finals after going 7-1 in round robin match play with an average of 238.75.

Frilingos, a Storm International staffer, who used his third 300 game in the tournament to help grab the No. 3 seed, rolled three consistent games in the stepladder final. In the opening match, the Aussie eliminated No. 4 Surasak Manuwong (left), Thailand, 224-203 and went on to defeat No. 2 Gu Yong-Jin (right), Korea, 226-200, in the semifinal.

Gu made history in November 2010 when he defeated compatriot Kim Jun-Yung in the title match of the PBA World Series of Bowling Scorpion Championship to become the first Korean to win a PBA tournament.

With the advantage that No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title, Smith started out commandingly and reeled off six consecutive strikes to take a 40-pin lead after six frames. Frilingos narrowed the gap with three strikes in frames 7 thru 9 and could have forced Smith to throw a strike on his first ball in the 10th frame, but a stubborn 4-pin sealed his fate,

Needing a solid pin count in his 10th frame, the U.S. Open winner of the year 2000 wrapped up the title and the one million Pesos top prize with a spare and a seven on the fill ball. Frilingos received PHP 500,000 for second place. Gu pocketed PHP 250,000 for third and Surasak garnered PHP 125,000 for fourth.

8th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge
Pearl Bowling Center in Malate, Manila, Philippines (Feb. 13-19, 2011)

Championship Round:

1. Robert Smith, United States, 243 (1 game), PHP 1,000,000 ($23,040)
2. George Frilingos, Australia, 678 (3 games), PHP 500,000 ($11,520)
3. Gu Yong-Jin, Korea, 200 (1 game), PHP 250,000 ($5,760)
4. Surasak Manuwong, Thailand, 203 (1 game), PHP 125,000 ($2,880)

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February, 2011